With the semester in full swing, and midterms quickly approaching, the stress of trying to balance work, school, extra curriculars and a social calendar can easily become overwhelming. Whether you think you have time for it or not, it is imperative that you schedule “me time” into your weekly schedule to unwind. Having time just for yourself is important for your mental health and physical health.
Here are a few tips and tricks that help deal with the stress and anxiety that comes along with college life.
EAT HEALTHY
Our bodies were made to eat whole foods, NOT fast food. Try putting down the Whataburger and grab a salad or wrap for lunch. Instead of buying a candy bar when you walk through the MSC on your way to class, grab some trail mix or a piece of fruit. Eating highly processed, fatty and sugary foods puts extra stress on the body, and by making a few healthier choices, you’ll feel better and have more energy to conquer your jampacked schedule. Take care of your body and it will take care of you!
WORK OUT
Getting up and moving your body is such a game changer. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins that naturally make you feel good and prepare you to conquer anything. You could go for a walk around your apartment complex, play a few holes of golf or take a Zumba class with friends! Moving your body doesn’t have to be a chore… chose something that’s fun and makes you get up and MOVE!
ORGANIZE YOUR SPACE
This is one of the top tips on my list. If I know I have a really big test week coming up, or I’m about to be traveling a lot in a month, I take an afternoon to purge my closet and organize my space. I grab a big trash bag and I will get rid of anything I don’t use that is cluttering my environment. Once I have removed the clutter from my life, I organize all my drawers and my closet to make everything neat and tidy. Ever since I was little, when my environment was organized, my life seemed more organized. Such a little task makes a world of difference!
Ever since I first started driving, my mom has always told me that the way you maintain your car directly correlates with the state of your life. If you have trash everywhere on the floor boards and bags and shoes thrown in the backseat, more often than not, your life is probably a chaotic mess, but if you maintain your car and keep it fresh and organized, your life will more than likely be more organized and your stress will be minimized!
SELF CARE DAY
Plan for one day out of the week to be a day that you do mindless activities to treat yourself! You have had a crazy, non-stop week… you deserve time to yourself to regroup. All work and no play makes for an extremely stressful life. My self-care day has always been Sunday’s. I will get up, go to church and then run to the grocery store. After I get home, some Sunday’s, I’ll go get my nails done, or walk through TJMaxx. Other Sunday’s I’ll come home and take a hot bath, do a face mask and binge watch whatever show I am currently watch on Netflix. It’s imperative that you have a balance of work and play to say goodbye to stress!
PLAN YOUR WEEK
Last, but certainly not least, is to buy a planner or wall calendar and USE IT. Write down due dates, exam days, birthdays, travel dates and appointments, so you can see your month and/or week at a glance. This tip will prevent you from forgetting to study for an exam or turn in a project. Everyone knows that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you walk into a class and they say to pull out a scantron… there is no greater stress in college than being unprepared for an exam. If you know what’s coming up, you will know how to prepare, instead of cramming and rushing which inflicts unnecessary stress.
These are just a few of my tips and tricks to eliminate unnecessary stress! I hope these give you ideas on ways to better manage the stress that comes along with being a college student!
Tune in next month to If you know, you know: The hidden gems of West Campus!
Alex Cozzitorto
Class of 2023
Animal Science